. Historical encyclopedia of Illinois. a lilackened scene ofdesolation instead of the pleasjint home theyleft. And. when returning after a absence,the sight of a fire in the direction of home, al-though it might prove to be several miles be-yond, would try the mettle of the team, by put-ting them to a speed proportioned to the anxietyof the driver. And here it may be well tothrow a little cold water over the thrilling andfearful stories, got uji to adorn a tale, of hair-breadth escapes of travelers and settlers fromprairie fires; such stories are not told by the oldsettlers who know wher
. Historical encyclopedia of Illinois. a lilackened scene ofdesolation instead of the pleasjint home theyleft. And. when returning after a absence,the sight of a fire in the direction of home, al-though it might prove to be several miles be-yond, would try the mettle of the team, by put-ting them to a speed proportioned to the anxietyof the driver. And here it may be well tothrow a little cold water over the thrilling andfearful stories, got uji to adorn a tale, of hair-breadth escapes of travelers and settlers fromprairie fires; such stories are not told by the oldsettlers who know whereof they speak. It istrue, a family might encamp in the middle of adense growth of dry grass, and let a fire sweepover their camp to their serious injury. Butwith ordinary Intelligence and caution, a traveleron the prairie need have no fear of a fatal catas-trophe, or even of any serious danger, The dangers from fire and flood were but apart of the difticultics which our pioneers wereolillgcd to meet, and it is greatly to he regretted. ^ ;^i^^^^^ HISTORY OF McLEAN COUNTY. 645 that our space will not admit of more storytelling. It was a hardship to lie obliged to en-dure the mosquito in days when mosquito netswere not in use, but mosquitos were not thenconsidered dangerous. It was both a hardshipand a danger to encounter the rattlesnake ofthose It was a pleasure—but rather adangerous oue—to hunt wolves and deer. Itwas almost, but not quite, dangerous to encounterthe tremendous swarms of greeuhead flies, andfly-time was a period of great hardship. Thushardships and dangers alternated on everyside. One or the other was generally near athand, and our pioneers grew- brave and resource-ful in time of danger, and hardy and resolute,ever ready to meet all of the hardships that fellto their luck. The pioneer wives and motherssuffered their full share in all of these they were away from home with their hus-bands, they dreaded what might happen to theirhomes in th
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